Chris Potter (actor)

Canadian actor

For other people named Christopher Potter, see Christopher Potter (disambiguation).

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Chris Potter

Potter at the 2015 CBC Con

Born|

Christopher Jay Potter

(1960-08-23) August 23, 1960 (age 64)

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Occupation| Actor
Years active| 1988–present
Spouse|

Karen Potter

(m. 1985)​

Children| 4

Christopher Jay Potter (born August 23, 1960) is a Canadian actor. He is primarily known for his roles on soap operas and prime-time television. Potter is known for his roles as Peter Caine, the son of Kwai Chang Caine (played by David Carradine) on the 1990s crime drama Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, Sgt. Tom Ryan in Silk Stalkings, Dr. David Cameron on the first season of Queer as Folk, the voice of Gambit in the X-Men: The Animated Series, and for his recurring role as con-artist Evan Owen on The Young and the Restless. His most prominent role is as Tim Fleming on the long-running Canadian drama Heartland.

## Early life

[edit]

The oldest of three children, Potter was born in Toronto, Ontario, to Ron Potter, an ex-pro-football player and insurance executive, and Judith Potter, a singer.[1] Potter was raised in London, Ontario and attended Oakridge Secondary School. His mother was interested, and got her son involved, in community theater.[2] He also developed an interest in sports and music.[1]

Potter wanted a career as a professional athlete; however, his father would not permit it. He later quit college to start a career as a rock musician. He discovered a love for the theater and became a professional stage actor. He also worked on an oil rig in Northern Canada, sold cars, and later became an insurance salesman.[2] He left the insurance company to start his career on TV, as an actor and a pitchman.

## Career

[edit]

After being a spokesman on many commercials in the 1980s, and his role in Material World,[2] he finally made his mark in TV playing David Carradine's son and crime-fighting partner, Det. Peter Caine on Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, after receiving a contract with Warner Bros. in 1992, and remained close friends with Carradine until his death in 2009.[3] His first role, in 1993, was a hit in both Canada and United States. From 1996 to 1999, he starred in the crime drama Silk Stalkings as Sgt. Tom Ryan[4][5] He also provided the voice of Gambit for at least the first four seasons of X-Men: The Animated Series.[6]

Potter was featured in Rocket's Red Glare (2000). He appeared on the first season as Dr. David Cameron on Queer as Folk opposite Hal Sparks, and he starred in a mini-series A Wrinkle in Time (2003) for ABC. He also co-starred with Joely Fisher in Wild Card from 2003 to 2005. Potter also appeared in Spymate (2006). He also played Graydon Jennings in the movie Thrill of The Kill.

The following year, he landed another role opposite Amber Marshall in the CBC Television series Heartland playing the role of Tim Fleming.[3] Also in 2007, Potter joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in a recurring role as Evan Owen, playing opposite Judith Chapman, with whom he had previously appeared on an episode of Silk Stalkings; Potter remained on The Young and the Restless until being written out in early 2008.[7]

From 2008 to 2014 Potter was in a series of TV movies featuring The Good Witch, portraying Jake Russell. On three of the films, The Good Witch's Charm, The Good Witch's Destiny and The Good Witch's Wonder, he was co-executive producer. One of his co-stars Catherine Disher had previously worked with him, on the X-Men and two episodes of KF:TLC.[8] Potter was unable to continue the role on the Good Witch television series because of scheduling conflicts with his work on Heartland.[9]

## Personal life

[edit]

Potter is married to Karen, and they have four children.[8]

## Filmography

[edit]

### Films

[edit]

* 2000: Spiders – Hero
* 2000: Rocket's Red Glare – Tom Young
* 2001: The Shrink Is In – Jonathon
* 2001: Arachnid – Lev Valentine
* 2004: Right Hook: A Tall Tail (Short) – Fisherman
* 2005: The Pacifier – Captain Bill Fawcett
* 2006: Spymate – Mike Muggins
* 2011: A Warrior's Heart – Seamus "Sully" Sullivan
* 2013: The Hunt (Short) – Bart

### Television

[edit]

This television-related list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (June 2025)

|

Chris Potter television credits Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1988  | War of the Worlds | Farmer  | Episode: "The Walls of Jericho"
1989  | Knightwatch | Tonnelli  | Episode: "Cops: Part 2"
Street Legal | Grant Simon  | Episode: "Confession"
Katts and Dog | Griff Lewis  | Episode: "Fatal Obsession"
1990-1992  | Top Cops | Various  | 6 episodes
Material World | Tim Lyons  | Seasons 1-3
1992  | Counterstrike | Billy  | Episode: "The Three Tramps"
1992-1996  | X-Men: The Animated Series | Remy LeBeau / Gambit (voice)  | Regular role (5 seasons)
1993-1997  | Kung Fu: The Legend Continues | Peter Caine | Main role (4 seasons)
1995  | Spider-Man: The Animated Series | Remy LeBeau / Gambit (voice)  | 2 episodes
1996  | The Nightmare Stepbrother | Adrian Williams  | Television movie
1996-2000  | Legends of Achilles | Achilles  | Main role
96 episodes
1996-1999  | Silk Stalkings | Detective Sergeant Tom Ryan  | Main role (seasons 6-8)
1998  | The Waiting Game | Adrian Seville  | TV movie
1999  | The Outer Limits | Captain Turner  | Episode: "Stranded"
2000  | Queer as Folk | Dr. David Cameron  | Recurring role (season 1)
Will & Grace | Michael  | Episode: "Hey La, Hey La, My Ex-Boyfriend's Back"
2001  | Final Jeopardy | Jed Seigel  | TV movie
Touched by an Angel | Michael Reilly  | Episode: "Angels Anonymous"
2003  | Andromeda | Able Ladrone  | Episode: "The Right Horse"
Rush of Fear | Sam Bryant  | TV movie
A Wrinkle in Time | Dr Jack Murry  | TV movie
2003-2005  | Wild Card aka Zoe Busiek: Wild Card | Dan Lennox  | Co-lead
2004  | Open House | David Morrow  | TV movie
Sex Traffic | Tom Harlsburgh  | TV movie
2004-2006  | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Mr. Rice / Linus KcKellen  | 2 episodes
2005  | One Tree Hill | Ray Green  | Episode: "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning"
Trump Unauthorized | Fred Trump Jr., adult  | TV movie
2007  | Superstorm | Dan Abrams  | TV miniseries
The Young and the Restless | Evan Owen  | 12 episodes
2007-present  | Heartland | Tim Fleming  | Main Cast
2008  | The Good Witch | Jake Russell  | TV movie
2009  | The Good Witch's Garden | Jake Russell  | TV movie
2010  | The Good Witch's Gift | Jake Russell  | TV movie
2010  | A Heartland Christmas | Tim Fleming  | TV movie
2011  | The Good Witch's Family | Jake Russell  | TV movie
2012  | The Good Witch's Charm | Jake Russell  | TV movie
2013  | The Good Witch's Destiny | Jake Russell  | TV movie
2014  | The Good Witch's Wonder | Jake Russell  | TV movie
2015  | Angels in the Snow | Charles Montgomery  | TV movie
2024  | X-Men '97 | Nathan Summers / Cable (voice)  | 5 episodes[10]

### Director

[edit]

Heartland

* Episode #45: "The Happy List" - January 31, 2010
* Episode #64: "The River" - February 27, 2011
* Episode #65: "Never Surrender" - March 6, 2011
* Episode #98: "Waiting For Tomorrow" - February 10, 2013
* Episode #110: "Best Man" - November 17, 2013
* Episode #111: "Hotshot" - December 1, 2013
* Episode #128: "Walk a Mile" - November 9, 2014
* Episode #129: "The Family Tree" - November 23, 2014
* Episode #144: "Back in the Saddle" - November 1, 2015
* Episode #145: "Over and Out" - November 8, 2015
* Episode #164: "Riding Shotgun" - November 13, 2016
* Episode #165: "Here and Now" - November 20, 2016
* Episode #182: "Our Sons and Daughters" - November 12, 2017
* Episode #183: "Truth Be Told" - November 19, 2017
* Episode #194: "Dare to Dream" - January 6, 2019
* Episode #195: "Hearts Run Free" - January 13, 2019
* Episode #200: "Running Scared" - March 3, 2019
* Episode #211: "The Art of Trust" - November 3, 2019
* Episode #212: "Legacy" - November 10, 2019
* Episode #217: "Making Amends" - January 24, 2021

Silk Stalkings

* Episode #168: "It's The Great Pumpkin, Harry" - January 24, 1999
* Episode #160: "Hidden Agenda" - August 30, 1998
* Episode #154: "Genius" - April 19, 1998

* Biography portal
* Canada portal
* Film portal
* Television portal

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Belanger, Joe (November 10, 2017). "Ex-Londoner Chris Potter has forged a long, successful career in TV". The London Free Press.
2. ^ a b c "Chris Potter – The New Kung Fu - The Legend Continues: Interview by Dwight Brown". Backkicks Martial Arts Encyclopdedia. June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
3. ^ a b "Chris Potter : Canadian TV's Busiest Actor". jamesbawden.blogspot.ca. October 2, 2009. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
4. ^ "TV Q&A -- 'Kung Fu' Canceled, But You Can Still See Potter | The Seattle Times". archive.seattletimes.com.
5. ^ "'STALKINGS' LIMPS TO END OF RUN". New York Daily News. April 16, 1999.
6. ^ "Saturday Morning Rewind: Cartoon Podcast". saturdaymorningrewind.podbean.com. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
7. ^ "Spotlight on Y&R's Chris Potter". soapoperadigest.com. May 16, 2007. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
8. ^ a b "Chris Potter Actor | Magazine Interview with Chris Potter". yourteenmag.com. October 25, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
9. ^ "Why did Good Witch; kill off Jake? Catherine Bell explains". Zap2it. March 7, 2015. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
10. ^ "'X-Men '97' exclusive look reveals legacy costumes, Theo James casting". EW.com.

## External links

[edit]

* Chris Potter at IMDb

Authority control databases

International|

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National|

* United States
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Other|

* Yale LUX

*[m.]: married